Text of report by Somaliland's Hargeysa radio on 28th March

The Egyptian ambassador in Nairobi, Kenya, who has been in Somaliland for a two-day official visit, today held a press conference at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hargeysa before leaving the country.

The Egyptian ambassador in Nairobi, Dr Salih Hairami [phonetic], explained Egypt's stand on the Somali reconciliation conference in Djibouti. He said Egypt supports the Djibouti reconciliation initiatives for Somalia.He urged the Somali people to sort out their differences without external interference.

Commenting on his meeting today with the Somaliland president, Hon Muhammad Ibrahim Egal, the ambassador said they discussed ways of promoting the ties between the two countries and how Egypt could assist Somaliland, especially in the fields of health, agriculture, education and trade.

The ambassador also said his government would like to see peace being achieved in all parts of Somalia. He referred to several attempts which Egypt had made to reconcile the warring Somali factions.

The Egyptian ambassador to Kenya pledged that his country's assistance would reach Somaliland soon.

The Somaliland ministers of foreign affairs and education, who attended the press conference, said Somaliland's stand on the Djibouti reconciliation conference was very clear and it would not participate the meeting. They said if the Djibouti meeting succeeds and a national Somali government is formed then Somaliland will be ready to discuss all options with the Somali government. The two ministers stressed that with the current situation in southern Somalia it was not possible for Somaliland to participate in the Djibouti reconciliation conference.